Chainman

I don't think there was any official agreement with regards to protection from either Belgium or France. Luxembourg tried to avoid to attract Nazi-Germany anger playing unsuccessfully the 'hey we are neutrals!' card. By 1940, probably on paper, Luxbg had 13 officers, 255 gendarmes (more a police function) and 425 volunteers plus auxiliaries. The volunteers were until 1939 split into 2 companies with a captain each as company commanders. So there was a semi-professional army augmented by civil guards in this period of political crisis. I don't know about any war (defense) plans. However, I think by spring 1940, the officers and the governement had no doubt about the outcome. The escape of the governement and the Grande-Duchesse Charlotte was even planned in case of an invasion... and succeeded for but one (of 5) ministers (=secretary of state?). What (and if any) action was seen by the army is uncertain to me. I've never heard of any organised resistance at this point.

My email is down at the provider. Maybe it's just maintenance. even the webmail does not work currently. I'll see tomorrow.

Luxembourgers? As far as I know they did not fight. you must understand that my tiny country had no military tradition. The "army" size was problably too small, and they were simply overhelmed on that fateful May morning. I'll check on some details and let you know.

Since my "perceived" victory level is very good, and no units left the map, I believe the drop in global morale is due to high losses and low ammo. I will also think twice about splitting squads next time and thanks to YankeeDog I will watch over the other factors as well. Chainman

Time? Well, in my 30 minute engagement that will have an effect tending to nil. Too bad. Chainman

Yep. Quite a few. And I lost quite a few. As my opponent wrote: we will soon be throwing stones at each other. But thanks for the tip. I'll think of it next time. Chainman

In a recent PBEM scenario Riesberg, I (and supposedly the enemy) had a dramatic drop in morale. Is there any way to recover morale points? By achieving objectives or is this not modelled? Has anyone seen this in a game? PS My PBEM Partner is MIA. If you read this ... I would still like to continue. [ July 30, 2003, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: Chainman ]

Luxembourg, Europe

I would like to give it a try. It would be my first PBEM as well. Chainman

I would have used the smoke. Let me explain. Per definition in a game everything is gamey. You can play with every asset you have, most of the time you do to win. (In any case I still have to discover the co-operative game species yet in wargames!) In order to make your gaming experience more fun, you will try to get closer to reality and you have to admit CM is inviting you to do so. Now you can decide with an oppoenent that some weapons are badly modelled and should be banned as "gamey". If agreed, fine. Everything else is then NOT "gamey". After all it's war (or a game about war) and in war everything is allowed. In the game everything is allowed within the limits of the model. If you want to be at ease, just think of your supposedly gamey tactics as an innovation. A German Tiger was also perceived as gamey by US troops in WWII, however they had to live with it (inside their model). Using smoke to protect your troops? As a commander I would use it, if no other option is left. Knowing it's over in 5mins? Well that is a limitation of the model being used, but you can make yourself a reason for it: I know I will have reinforcements soon, I can leave the position now, I bet the enemy will withdraw if they cannot make it now, etc... That is just in your imagination. If you don't like that aspect look for solutions like banning or using a last turn randomiser. I read it exists for CMBO (PC -version). Good gaming,

Yeah, rush. This worked well on the other bridge. (=joke) But seriously, my first attempt was rather in cautious style sneak-run-sneak-run, a bloody mess, and that starts for me definitely when I lose a whole platoon. (The web told me about 8 losses initially!?) Then I tried a more rush-rush approach as suggested, with similar results. The third method was with support fire (and I thought : should have done that earlier anyway). In despair I tried crawling, but the guys are detected quite early. I will give it another go even at the expense of some squads. 8? Who sold the operation plan to the AI? By the way, the website (I forgot where) told me the Brits were quite informed by the Gondée family about the German setup. Isy this in your briefing? My tactical(ethical?) problems will not retain me from a test report after the operation is succesfully done. Be patient. Cheers, Chainman

I do get a bloody nose each time I try to rush the Pegasus bridge. I set up fire support in the treelines, and even waited for the mortar to pour some shells, but my Brits are slaughtered. I even tried crawling across the bridge. Do the other testers have the same bloody results? PS. The mortar team are real cowards, and I think someone leaked detailed plans to the AI.

I like historical scenarios and would like to give it a try. It will be hard to find an opponent that won't recognise the bridge and situation and could be REALLY surprised. Please mail.